Button



April 1,, 1930.

J. M. CLARK ET AL BUT TON Filed July 20, 1929- Patented Apr. 1, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND IRAI). FORD, F ROSELANID, ONTARIO,

CANADA, ASSIGNORS TO UNIVERSAL BUTTON FASTENING &

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION BUTTON COMPANY, OF OF MICHIGAN BUTTONApplication filed July 20,

This invention relates to buttons for workmens clothing and the like andaims to provide an inexpensive but durablebutton which may be made atlow manufacturing and labor costs.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrativebutton embodying the invention and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of an illustrative button fastened tothe'fabric of a garment and employed in conjunction with an overallSuspender loop shown engaging the neck or collet of the button. 7

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the back of the button showing the attachingfastener prongs in section, such section corresponding to that of theplane 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a view of a button arranged for attac ment by means of a singlepronged fastener- Fig.4 is an elevation of the back of the buttonshownin Fig. 3. The illustrativebutton is formed in this 1n.-

stance by the assembly of three elements,

namely, the button body 10, a covering for the top of the buttonrepresented by the decorative and protective shell 11, and a fastenerengaging element 12 constituting also the button base-The button body inthis instance comprises a head portion 13 and a shank portion 14, ofrelatively small diameter, the end of the latter being formed with arecess 15 generally semi-spherical in shape to receive the prongedattaching fastener. The body 10 is advantageouslyfmade of soft. steel orother metal inthe form of a rod or similar stock (which is quiteinexpensivecompared with sheet metal stock) and brought into theillustrated shape by one or more die press- .ing operations upon a blankor slug cut from the rod stock. These operations advantaeously includethe formation of the recess 15,

'45 eaving a relatively narrow edge"l6 at the extremity of the .recess.v

. The fastener engaging element in the form of a perforated disc 12 isadvantageously at- I tached to the body member by a welding opershankforming the rim of the 1929. Serial No. 379,839.

ation. Such operation may be conveniently performed by appropriateapparatus in which one electrode engages the fastener engaging element,causing current to flow through the thin edge 16. The concentration ofthe current in this thin edge raises it to a Welding temperature. Thepressure exerted in the welding operation is suflicient to cause themetal of the rim to flow slightly laterally as at 17, leaving the finalrim thickness somewhat greater than its initial thickness. The disc 12is advantageously made somewhat greater in diameter than that ofthe'shank 14'to provide both a substantial button base and a neck 18intermediate the top and base of the button. Being made of solid metalinstead of in hollow form, the shank 14 may be madein a much smallerdiameter with greater strength than a hollow shank button made of themore expensive sheet metal. Its small diameter permits it to be buttonedthrough button holes without buckling the clothas frequently happenswith buttons whose necks or collets are larger than the space in thebutton hole provided for their reception. Furthermore, as illustrated inFig. 1, the neck provides a seat for the extremity of a suspender loop19 which, among other advantages prevents it from wedging betweenthebutton base and the fabric to which the button is attached, with thepossibility of loosening the button and tearing the cloth. In otherwords, the pull on the suspender loop is not concentrated at a pointwhere it can impair the firmness of attachment of the button to thecloth.

As shown, the illustrative button is attached by a pronged fastener 20upset within the recess in the shank of the button. If a double prongedattaching fastener is used, such as that shown in Fig. 2, the fastener'engaging element is provided with a pair of openings 21 (semi-circularin this instance) for the respective prongs leaving an interveningbar-22. The fastener is applied with the prongs straddling the bar 22and its prongs are upset around the bar by the action of the curvedsurface'of the recess 15. Such clamping of the prongs is advantageouslyeffected by .a pair of cooperating dies whichlco press against thebutton and fastener heads. If a single pronged fastener, such as thatshown in Fig. 3, is to be employed the button preferably is providedwith a fastener engaging element having only a single opening 23 onlyslightly larger in size and shape than the prong, thus providing abuttonwith an internal cavity or recess 24: substantially larger thanthe opening 23. Upon, insertion of the prong 25 of a single prongedfastener and the application of pressure, the curved surface of therecess 15 serves to curl over or upset the end of the prong, enlargingit to a diameter substantially greater than that of the opening 23 andsetting it tightly against the fastener engaging element. Vith eitherform of attaching fastener, the fabric 26 to which the button isattached is firmly clamped by the button base and the head of thefastener, which are adequate in size to grip a substantial area of clothand avoid concentration of stress on the cloth where it is penetrated bythe fastener.

After formation of the button as aforesaid, it is preferably treatedsuperficially to improve its appearance and to provide a protectivecovering or coating at least for the head. For example, the decorativefinish may be provided by a shell 11 formed of relatively thin metalwhich is either itself rustproof or treated superficially to render itrustproof. Its outer surface may be provided with any desired embossingor trademark, depending upon what the )urchaser desires. It is securedto the button y crimping its marginal flange 27 underneath the head 13of the button which in this case is recessed or rabbeted at 28 so thatthe outer surface of the crimped flange liesflu'sh with the undersurface of the head.

The illustrative button is not only an in expensive button since it ismade of but two relatively inexpensive elements (not including thedecorative or protective finish which in this instance is provided by aseparate element) but its construction is such as to lend itself well toeconomical manufacture, requiring little or no handling. For example,the body 10 may be formed in a series of operations which involve nomanual handling, and, Without intervening manual handling, the fastenerengaging element or button base 12 may be formed (by asimple punchingoperation) and welded to the rim 16. Then without intervening handlingthe button may be given its protective or decorative finish. While thebutton is advantageously adapted to be formed economioallyin theaforesaid or a similar manner, its manufacture is obviously not limitedto full automatic manufacture or to manufacture according to anydefinite sequence of operations.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the precise details of theillustrative button since these details may be variously modified.Moreover, it is not indispensable that all features of the invention beused" conjointly, since various features may be advantageously employedin different combinations and subcombinations.

Having described one embodiment of our invention, we claim:

1. A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,a solid metal button body shaped to provide a head and a shank ofrelatively small diameter having a curved recess in the end thereof, abutton base member welded to said shank and perforated to receive apronged fastener, said recess being constructed and arranged to up,- setthe fastener to secure attachment, said base being relatively large indiameter "compared to that of said shank Whereb to provide an adequatecloth engaging base and permit the use of a button with 'a relativelythin shank. i

2. A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,a solid metal button body shaped to provide a head and a shank having acurved recess in the end thereof, a base member welded to said shank andperforated to receive a pronged' fastener, said recess being constructedand arranged to upset the fastener to secure attachment; y

3. A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,a solid metal button body shaped to provide ahead and a shank having acurved recess in the end thereof, a base member welded to'said shank andperforated to receive a pronged fastener, "said recess being constructedand arranged to upset the fastener'to secure attachment, anda'decorative thin metallic shell crimped over the button head.

4. 'A metal button of the character described comprising "incombination, a solid metal button body shaped toprovide :a head andashankhaving'a curvedrec'ess in the e'nd thereof, and a disc larger indiameterthan said shank and welded to the extremity of said shank, said'disc being perforated to receive a pronged fastener.

5; 'A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,"a solid metal button body shaped 'to provide a head and a shank, havinga semi-spherical recess formed intheend thereof of a sizetoleave'arelatively thin rim around said recess at'the extremity of saidshank,and a disc electrically welded to saidrim,.said 'di'sc beingsubstantially larger in diameter than saidshank and being perforated toreceive "a prongd fastener, the curved surface of said 'recess servingto upset said fastener.

6. A metal button of the character d'escribed comprising f incombination, 'asolid metal button body shaped to providea head and ashank having "a curved recess *in the end thereof, a base member weldedto said shank and perforated to receive a pronged fastener, said recessbeing constructed and arranged to upset the fastener to secureattachment, said head being marginally recessed on its under surface anda decorative thin metallic shell covering said head and having itsmargins bent into said marginal recess, the latter being of a depth tobring the N surface of said shell margin flush with the back of saidhead.

7. A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,a solid metal button body shaped to provide a solid integral head and ashank, said shank having a curved fastener upsetting recess formed inthe end thereof, and a fastener engaging element secured to said shankacross said recess, said button head being provided with a a protectivesurfacing.

8. A metal button of the character described comprising in combination,a solid rod of relatively small diameter formed on one end to provide ahead, and at the other 5 end being formed with a curved concave recessto provide a fastener upsetting die, the intermediate portion of saidro'd providing the button shank, and a fastener engaging element securedacross said recess to the end a of said shank.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

JOHN M. CLARK. IRA D. FORD.

